POPULATION
SURVEY
Survey
To Gain An Estimate Of The Population Of Potential New English Learners With
Visual Limitations In The Seattle Area And Estimate Of How Many Are Currently
Receiving Assistance In Learning English And Orientation To American Culture
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Contents
Appendix
I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
Appendix
II, Statistical Tables, Non-medical Service Providers and ESL Educational
programs
Introductory Remarks
The
survey was prepared and administered and the report written by Sylvie Kashdan
and Robby Barnes, core staff members of the Kaizen Program. We would like to
thank the Glaser Foundation of Bellevue, Washington, which provided a grant to
fund work on the survey.
For
the purposes of this report, we use the term "immigrant" to designate
a person who enters the United States to live with family members who are
permanent residents, to find decently-paying employment or for other similar
reasons. We use the term "refugee" to designate a person who seeks
asylum in the U.S. on the grounds that she or he fears persecution in her or his
country of origin.
Under
the United Nations (UN) 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, an agreement signed
and ratified by the U.S. government, a refugee is a person who "owing to a
well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is
outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear,
is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."
The
web site "ABC's of Immigration" is available at:
http://www.immigrationforum.org/Facts/ABCsonimmigration.htm
It
summarizes U.S. Immigration And Naturalization definitions of status as follows:
"Who
is an immigrant?
"According
to U.S. law, an immigrant is a foreign-born individual who has been admitted to
reside permanently in the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
"How
do immigrants get admitted to permanently reside here? Typically, a foreign-born
individual seeking to become an LPR can attain legal status in one of two ways:
"Through
family-sponsored immigration, a U.S. citizen can sponsor his or her foreign-born
spouse, parent (if the sponsor is over the age of 21), minor and adult married
and unmarried children, and brothers and sisters. A Lawful Permanent Resident
can sponsor her or his spouse, minor children, and adult unmarried children.
"Through
employment-based immigration, a U.S. employer can sponsor an individual for a
specific position where there is a demonstrated absence of U.S. workers."
"Who
is a refugee?
"A
person outside of the United States who seeks protection on the grounds that he
or she fears persecution in his or her homeland. To attain refugee status, a
person must prove that he or she has a 'well-founded fear of persecution' on the
basis of at least one of five specifically-enumerated and
internationally-recognized grounds. Those grounds include the person's 1. race,
2. religion, 3. membership in a social group, 4. political opinion, or 5.
national origin. A person who has already entered the United States, and who
fears persecution if sent back to his country, may apply for asylum here. Once
granted asylum, the person is called an 'asylee.' Like a refugee, an asylum
applicant must also prove that he has a 'well-founded fear of persecution' based
on the same enumerated grounds. Both refugees and asylees may apply to become
LPRs after one year."
More
than a million people a year currently immigrate to the United States. The most
recent Census statistics indicate that there are now 30 million foreign born
people living here. More than 10 percent of the current U.S. population was born
in another country. Although the numbers may seem large, there were times in the
past when the proportion of foreign-born to native-born residents was higher.
This was particularly true between 1870 and 1920, when approximately 15 percent
of the population was born in other countries.
According
to "Fast Facts on Today's Newcomers," from the National Immigration
Forum 2000, "In 1998, the 'Top Ten' countries from which the U.S. received
legal immigrants were: Mexico (131,575), China (36,884), India (36,482),
Philippines (34,466), the Dominican Republic (20,387), Vietnam (17,649), Cuba
(17,375), Jamaica (15,146), El Salvador (14,590), and Korea (14,268)."
"In
1998, the 'Top Ten' places from which refugees fled and were resettled in the
U.S. were: Bosnia and Hercegovina, the Former Soviet Union, Vietnam, Somalia,
Iran, Cuba, Liberia, Iraq, Sudan, and Burma." (See: http://www.immigrationforum.org/Facts/todaysnewcomers.htm)
The
overwhelming majority of new-comers who settle here in the U.S. each year are
immigrants. Between 70 and 80 percent are relatives of U.S. citizens who sponsor
their applications for permission to immigrate. Citizens may only sponsor their
spouses, unmarried children, parents (if the citizen is over 21 years), married
children, and brothers and sisters (if the citizen is over 21 years). Lawful
Permanent Residents (LPRs) may sponsor only their spouses and unmarried minor
and adult children. Neither citizens nor LPRs may bring in more distant family
members, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins.
About
100,000 refugees a year are admitted for humanitarian reasons. This means that
they have been able to convince the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
that they have fled their home countries because of well-founded fear of
persecution, discrimination or oppression.
The
remainder of migrants to the U.S. come in hopes of improved economic
opportunities.
Migrants
To Washington State
According to the most recent U.S. Census estimates, 146,830 foreign immigrants came to Washington State between 1990 and 1999. The numbers of immigrants and refugees coming to Washington State from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe have all increased over the past ten years. The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER for August 6, 2001, reported that the Census Bureau found that "More foreign-born residents arrived in Washington state during the past decade than in the prior three decades combined... Currently, about one of every 10 Washington residents is foreign-born. And as many as half of those residents came to the state during the 1990s..." (See: "The 2000 Census: The tide of foreign-born now a flood, State's prosperity is a welcome change from war and poverty" By Phuong Cat Le and Lise Olsen, THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Monday, August 6, 2001: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/34070_census06.shtml
"King County annually absorbs more immigrants, by far, than any other county in the state, Census figures show." But many of the newcomers do not settle in the City of Seattle, instead preferring "less expensive areas of the county such as Kent and Federal Way. And migration to King County accounts for only 46 percent of the state's total during the past 10 years." (See: "Steady stream of immigrants underscores July Fourth" By David Fisher, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Tuesday, July 4, 2000: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/indy04.shtml
The
2000 Annual Growth Report published by King County noted that, "Immigration
from other countries is an important component of King County population
change... metropolitan area data from the US Immigration and Naturalization
Service shows an average of 10,000 to 12,000 persons per year moving from other
countries into the Puget Sound area... most of these immigrants and refugees
reside in King County. The annual number of people settling in King County from
other countries has remained constant at around 10,000 for several years, and a
large proportion of King County's recent total growth has come from
international migration as opposed to migration from other parts of the
U.S." (See: http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/orpp/agr/agr00/ch1-00.pdf
page 2)
According
to the Census Bureau, King County's total population in 2000 was 1,737,034. That
represents a 15.2 percent increase over the 1,507,305 found by the Sensus Bureau
in 1990. There were 140,611 residents who were born outside the United States in
1990. That represented 9.3 percent of the total King County population. Between
1990 and 2000, the number of King County residents who were not born in the
United States increased by nearly 68,000, resulting in a total foreign-born
population of nearly 208,611 in 2000. Residents of King County who were not born
in the United States now constitute 12 percent of the total population. However,
this data somewhat underestimates the actual population of new-comers because
The net international migration data record only the arrival of immigrants from
abroad--not those moving within the country, and the children born to immigrants
after their arrival are not part of the immigrant settlement data--they become
part of domestic population change. (see: http://www.fairus.org/html/msas/042wakin.htm
)
David
Fisher notes in his SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER article for Tuesday, July 4, 2000
("Steady stream of immigrants underscores July Fourth"), that
foreign-born residents to Washington State, "have come in successive waves
as the world's trouble spots have heated and cooled. The 1980s saw a steady
stream of Cambodians and Vietnamese. Persecuted religious groups began flowing
in after the collapse of the old Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Last year
brought a wave of Bosnians. This year, the bulk of refugees are African."
Purpose
Of The Survey
We
know from personal contacts, as well as from reports of friends and colleagues
working in the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Visual Impairment fields
that there are visually-impaired and blind people among the immigrants and
refugees who have taken up residence in the Seattle area. Some have been
handicapped their entire lives due to inherited medical conditions or acquired
diseases; others have lost vision due to aging, accidents, malnutrition, war or
individual victimization. Although such people are usually able to receive some
medical care, local non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs
are usually not prepared to give them the specialized support they need to
become full participants in our society.
The
problem is two-fold. Firstly, most instruction offered to immigrants and
refugees who are learning English in the United States depends heavily on
pictures, illustrations and other visual cues for introducing ideas and topics
in the new language. But, visually-impaired and blind new English learners can
rely on few or none of these visual cues. Because of this difficulty, many new
English learners who are visually-impaired or blind find it extremely
challenging, and even discouraging, to participate in programs designed
primarily for fully-sighted immigrants and refugees. The staff in these programs
also often have difficulty understanding the special needs of these students
when they do enroll, particularly how to facilitate these students' acquisition
of English by more fully and creatively utilizing their other senses. The staff
in these programs are also not prepared to adapt the presentations to make them
more accessible to visually-impaired or blind students.
Secondly,
visually-impaired and blind immigrants and refugees also face challenges when
they attempt to gain specialized adaptive skills by participating in programs
designed for fluent English-speaking visually-impaired and blind people. These
programs are heavily dependent on oral communication in English, while the
new-comers generally lack English proficiency. They therefore often have
difficulty participating in and benefiting from such programs, even though they
may both desire and need the skills such programs offer. This is exacerbated by
the fact that the staff in these programs are not generally prepared to serve
the complex needs of immigrants and refugees, especially their needs to learn a
new language and the ways of a very new culture.
In
addition, immigrants and refugees with visual limitations frequently do not seek
any help, because of their feeling that the hurtles are too much for them to
surmount. This is especially true of older immigrants and refugees who have
little or no prospect of or desire for employment, and may, in addition, believe
that they are too old to learn a new Language and the ways of a new culture.
Visually-impaired
and blind immigrant and refugee girls and women are also generally less likely
than boys and men to seek out or take advantage of ESL and literacy services,
because of their especially low status and low expectations, and their families'
desires to keep them at home. As noted in WOMEN AND DISABILITY, prepared by
Esther R. Boylan (from the Introduction), everywhere in the world, the forces
that push disabled women to the margins of society are still strong, and many
still do not have access to resources which could enable them to resist their
negative stereotyping. Equality of opportunity and treatment for women has yet
to be achieved in most societies. A woman with a physical disability faces a
double handicap. Although some progress has been made in improving the status of
women in general, disabled women have remained a largely ignored group. Life for
women with disabilities in industrialized countries has improved significantly
over the past 30 years, especially for younger disabled women, who usually
receive some access to education and skills. However, in most countries outside
of North America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, handicapped girls
and women still have very low status and are afforded very few opportunities for
self-realization and fulfillment.
Jean
E. Carlin also notes, in "Refugee and Immigrant Populations at Special
Risk: Women, Children and the Elderly," that "Many of the refugees and
immigrants to the United States in the past two decades have been non-white;
hence, they are minorities in the United States...Most of these people had not
experienced being minorities in their countries of origin." They are
therefore frequently emotionally unprepared to understand and cope with the
racial and other discrimination they may face in this country. (See
"Refugee and Immigrant Populations at Special Risk: Women, Children and the
Elderly," by Jean E. Carlin, in MENTAL HEALTH OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES,
eds. Wayne Holzman and Thomas Bourneman)
These
factors, along with other challenges common to all immigrants and refugees, have
contributed to making a large proportion of the visually-impaired and blind
immigrant and refugee population under-served, and even invisible.
It is therefore not surprising that, currently, there are no definitive figures on how many people in the Seattle area face the complex challenges related to visual limitations combined with lack of knowledge of English and North American culture. In response to this lack, as part of the Kaizen Program's mission to assist such people, during 2000 and 2001 we undertook a survey to gain a reasonable approximation of the numbers of immigrants and refugees in the Seattle area with visual limitations.
Survey
Data Collection
A
specially focused survey questionnaire was prepared in 2000 and sent out in 2001
to 93 ophthalmologists and optometrists in the city of Seattle, drawn from a
mailing list provided by the Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.
We chose to pose our questions to these medical experts because we believe they
can provide fairly reliable data on some aspects of the subject for a variety of
reasons. First, ophthalmologists and optometrists are highly likely to have
served visually-impaired new-comers. Visually-impaired and blind new-comers who
are seeking public assistance will generally be referred to medical clinics
where they will then be referred to specialists to verify medical conditions
that might make them eligible for benefits. Moreover, many visually-impaired and
blind immigrants and refugees seek out eye physicians soon after they arrive in
the U.S. with the hope that the advanced state of medical knowledge in this
country might mean that doctors here could help them gain improvements in
vision. We also chose to query the ophthalmologists and optometrists because of
their expertise in recognizing when patients have significant visual limitations
as opposed to correctable visual difficulties.
Each
ophthalmologist and optometrist was asked to respond to a series of questions
concerning patients whom they served during the last year who have visual
impairments and for whom English is a second language. (See Appendix III,
Questionnaire For Ophthalmologists And Optometrists)
Of
the 93 ophthalmologists and optometrists, 20 responded, for a reasonable
response rate of 22 percent. However, only fourteen were able to provide some
specific information on patients with visual limitations for whom English is a
second language. Some of those who gave specific numbers noted that the figures
provided were estimates based on their personal memories because their offices
do not keep precise records on patients' areas of origin or on language skills.
The remaining 6 doctors indicated that their offices do not keep any records
regarding patients' areas of origin, and their staff could not chance an
estimate of how many people from non-English-speaking backgrounds were served
during the last year.
All
together, the ophthalmologists and optometrists who provided some information
about the numbers of patients indicated that during the past year they have
provided services to 656 immigrants or refugees who have significant vision
impairments which are not simply correctable by the use of standard optical
lenses. Of these patients, 577 requested the assistance of interpreters,
indicating some difficulties or lack of confidence in using English. And the
responding ophthalmologists and optometrists and their staff felt that at least
500 demonstrated definite difficulty communicating in English.
Since
these ophthalmologists and optometrists are professional evaluators of visual
capacity, we can be fairly sure that the numbers given represent a significant
local population of people with definite visual impairments or blindness for
whom English is a second language. We can also be fairly certain that the
numbers given do not represent very much double counting, because the survey
only asked about patients seen over the past year. Although we cannot be sure of
how many of these patients would actually desire or benefit from ESL programs
especially adapted to deal with their needs for accessible methods and formats,
based on the responses of these ophthalmologists and optometrists, we can be
fairly confident that there is a sizeable population of immigrants and refugees
with visual limitations in the Seattle area.
Another
specially focused survey questionnaire was prepared in 2000 and sent out in 2001
to 4 non-medical programs that specifically serve visually-impaired and blind
people, and to 11 large ESL educational programs that serve adults and families
in the city of Seattle. The non-medical programs that specifically serve
visually-impaired and blind people were chosen on the basis of our knowledge of
such programs in the Seattle area. The ESL programs were chosen on the basis of
our knowledge, supplemented with listings in the WASHINGTON LITERACY RESOURCE
DIRECTORY (1999). These programs were chosen because of the central role they
play in providing such services in this area. Because of the small number of
programs to which this specially focused questionnaire was circulated, we were
able to follow up with phone calls when no response was received or when more
detailed responses were needed. While some programs never responded, even after
receiving follow-up phone calls, we were able to get responses from enough
programs to make the data meaningful.
Through
this second questionnaire we hoped to gain an approximation of how many
visually-impaired immigrants and refugees are currently receiving any ESL or
literacy services.
We
chose to pose our questions to non-medical programs that specifically serve
visually-impaired and blind people because both medical personnel and social
welfare agencies might refer visually-impaired and blind immigrants and refugees
to these programs for needed services. Moreover, the data on visual impairment
of clients provided by such programs is very likely to be fairly reliable
because these programs utilize recognized standards for judging visual capacity.
It is highly unlikely, therefore, that any of these programs would
inappropriately designate non-native speakers as visually impaired.
We
chose to query the ESL educational programs because they specifically serve
immigrants and refugees who desire to learn English. Although these programs do
not generally specialize in serving visually-impaired and blind students, they
do provide important services that are of interest to very many immigrants and
refugees, and therefore may very well have contact with new English learners
with visual limitations. We also chose to pose our questions to ESL educational
programs because of their expertise in recognizing levels of English proficiency
as opposed to simply identifying speaking English with a non-native accent and
some syntactical errors.
No
questionnaires were distributed to elementary or high school programs.
Determining the size of the population of elementary and high school age new
English learners with visual limitations was not considered a high priority for
this project because we believe that new English learners with visual
limitations in the elementary and high schools probably have far greater
opportunities for receiving specialized literacy and civic empowerment training
than those outside the school system.
No
questionnaires were distributed to state agencies because these agencies do not
themselves provide educational services beyond training in adaptive skills, for
those who have adequate English competency. Beyond this, they usually refer
visually-impaired clients to the non-medical service providers and/or ESL
educational programs which were surveyed for further services. Any data from
such agencies would therefore very likely result in a large amount of
double-counting.
Each
non-medical program that specifically serves visually-impaired and blind people,
and each ESL educational program was asked to respond to a series of questions
concerning clients/students who they served during the last year who have visual
impairments for whom English is a second language. (See Appendix IV,
Questionnaire for Non-medical Service Providers and ESL Educational programs.)
We
were able to obtain 10 responses out of the 15 survey questionnaires for
non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs sent out, for a very
good response rate of 66 percent. However, of the 10 non-medical service
providers and ESL educational programs responding, only 8 were able to give some
specific information on numbers of visually-impaired clients or students.
One
of the non-medical programs which was unable to provide any data primarily
serves older visually-impaired and blind people. The staff of this program
indicated that up until now they have not been keeping any records regarding
clients' areas of origin or need for learning English, and the staff could not
chance an estimate of how many people from non-English-speaking backgrounds were
served during the last year. This program's staff has not offered or referred
clients to literacy or ESL education programs. However, the program's staff
intends to begin keeping records of clients' areas of origin or need for
learning English to better serve their clients with possible referrals in the
future.
Another
non-medical program queried, which provides some educational services for a
range of handicapped people, including visually-impaired and blind people,
reported that there were no second language learners with visual impairments
receiving educational services from them.
However,
two of the responding non-medical programs that provide services for
visually-impaired and blind clients, were able to give specific numbers of
second language learners with visual impairments receiving services from them
during the past year. These programs reported having supported 10
visually-impaired immigrants or refugees in ESL or literacy education during the
past year. We are confident that both of these programs accurately designated
clients as being in both of the relevant categories, and therefore provided
accurate data for this survey. But, only 2 of the 10 visually-impaired and blind
clients were receiving support in full ESL classes. The other 8 were primarily
given oral conversation practice. Both of these programs gave some assistance in
learning to use voice-output screen readers and magnification programs with
computers as part of developing accessible reading and writing skills. However,
neither of these programs provided or supported direct instruction in braille
literacy. Moreover, one of these programs has now discontinued all such
educational support for its clients, although it will continue to have
second-language visually-impaired and blind people in its work program. This
means that 8 of the 10 new English learners with visual limitations will need to
seek help elsewhere or forego such education.
One
ESL program which is part of a larger organization serving immigrants and
refugees indicated that the organization has served four non-English-speaking
clients with visual limitations during the past year in the organization's job
placement program, but none had attended the ESL classes.
Another
ESL program which is part of a larger organization serving immigrants and
refugees indicated that the program served one visually-impaired client during
the past year in the organization's citizenship program, but none had attended
the ESL classes.
Together,
all of the non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs which
submitted some information about visually-impaired and blind immigrants and
refugees indicated that during the past year they have provided services to 33
immigrants or refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not
simply correctable by the use of standard optical lenses. However, only 10 were
reported as receiving services related to ESL or literacy education. Two-thirds
of these people were not receiving any such services.
Together,
all of the responding non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs
reported seven visually-impaired non-native speakers as requesting communication
in their native language, indicating definite difficulties or lack of confidence
in communicating in English. At least 7 were also perceived by the staffs of the
surveyed programs as having definite difficulties communicating in English.
However, the number of those among the 33 visually-impaired and blind non-native
English speakers who might desire and benefit from ESL and literacy educational
services may very well be larger than the number reported as receiving such
services during the past year. Larger numbers might express interest if they
were offered an opportunity to receive ESL and literacy education more
specifically tailored to their needs. Moreover, even new-English learners who
have progressed beyond the most basic level might very well desire and benefit
from such specialized assistance. For example, to our knowledge, among the 33
reported in this survey, there are 3 current or past Kaizen Program students who
are now intermediate new English learners, who may not be perceived as having a
great deal of difficulty communicating in English, but who do actually desire
and benefit from ESL and literacy educational services. (Note: the Kaizen
Program did not submit information for this survey in order to minimize
double-counting.)
Since
the surveyed non-medical programs that specifically serve visually-impaired and
blind people utilize recognized standards for judging visual capacity, we can be
fairly sure that none of them have inappropriately classified and over-counted
non-native speakers as visually impaired. Moreover, they have probably
undercounted the numbers of non-native speakers they are actually serving
because only two of these programs have kept track of clients' immigrant or
refugee status, or offered support for or referrals to programs which provide
any literacy or ESL education. The other 2 have not considered such services to
be part of their mission.
Most
of the ESL educational programs surveyed have probably also somewhat
undercounted the numbers of visually-impaired or blind students they have
actually served during the past year, because they did not specifically focus on
serving this special needs population. Since the general population of immigrant
and refugee students have many other pressing issues requiring assistance, and
since these ESL educational programs are not well prepared to provide any
specialized assistance to visually-impaired or blind students, they often
understandably fail to keep records of the vision problems of students. Most
often, when visually-impaired students appear, instructors informally agree on
some minimal accommodations, such as allowing the students to participate in
learning English only through listening and speaking activities. Moreover, many
visually-impaired immigrants and refugees may enter these programs without
informing the staff of their visual impairments because they are not aware that
they could receive any special assistance or they do not feel comfortable asking
for individualized assistance. Although many of these students probably drop out
because of difficulties in following the instruction without any adaptations for
accessibility, we have no way of knowing what proportion of those who drop out
do so for such reasons.
Many
other immigrants and refugees who are visually impaired or blind are unlikely to
even seek out ESL or literacy education services, because they often do not
believe that they can benefit from them, or they feel uncomfortable exposing
themselves to the expected scorn and discrimination of fully sighted new English
learners from their countries of origin or elsewhere. This is most likely the
case with older men and women over the age of 65 and with women of all ages.
Nevertheless,
we are certain that the numbers given by the non-medical service providers and
ESL educational programs do also represent some double counting because some
visually-impaired new English learners regularly avail themselves of the
services of multiple programs, including the Kaizen Program. For example, the
Kaizen staff is aware that at least 3 current or past Kaizen students have been
reported as part of the total count. And, at least 6 current or past Kaizen
students are not included in these cumulative figures, but have availed
themselves of services from one or more of the surveyed non-medical programs in
the past (two or more years ago). This means that the actual number of
immigrants and refugees with visual limitations who are presently receiving
literacy or ESL education in the city of Seattle is probably close to the number
reported in this survey.
What
The Data Show
Although
both of the specially focused questionnaires distributed contained questions
related to patients' or clients'/students' countries of origin as well as
region, the vast majority of respondents only indicated regions of origin. Our
final report, therefore, only presents data for regions of origin.
Altogether,
the ophthalmologists and optometrists who provided some information about the
numbers of patients indicated that during the past year they have provided
services to 656 immigrants or refugees who have significant vision impairments.
Cumulatively, all of the non-medical service providers serving visually-impaired
and blind people and the ESL educational programs which submitted some
information about visually-impaired second-language speakers indicated that
during the past year they have provided services to 33 immigrants or refugees
who have significant vision impairments, and 10 of those people were receiving
literacy and ESL educational services. From comparing the numbers given by the
ophthalmologists and optometrists, and those given by the non-medical service
providers and ESL educational programs, it is evident that the number of
immigrants or refugees with significant visual impairments reported as receiving
any support in ESL or other literacy education during the past year was only
equivalent to about 1.5 percent of the number of immigrants and refugees
recognized by the ophthalmologists and optometrists as having significant vision
impairments. Even if we only consider the 577 patients who the ophthalmologists
and optometrists reported as having requested the assistance of interpreters,
the number of immigrants or refugees with significant visual impairments
reported as receiving any support in ESL or other literacy education during the
past year was only equivalent to about 1.7 percent of that number. If we only
consider the 500 who the doctors and their staffs reported as demonstrating
definite difficulty communicating in English, the number of immigrants or
refugees with significant visual impairments reported as receiving any support
in ESL or other literacy education during the past year was only equivalent to
about 2 percent of that number.
It
should also be noted that of the 4 non-medical programs that specifically serve
visually-impaired and blind people, only two attempted to support them in ESL or
literacy education to any degree, and one has now (as of 2001) discontinued such
services. It is therefore fairly clear that many immigrants and refugees in
Seattle who are visually impaired or blind have received no literacy or ESL
educational services whatsoever, and, most will probably not be receiving such
services from the surveyed programs in the future.
It
is highly probable that the majority of blind and visually-impaired new-comers
to the United States have had little or no previous experience living
independently with their disabilities. In most countries outside North America,
Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, assistive services and educational
opportunities for people with disabilities are minimal or nonexistent. Those who
have been visually impaired since childhood often have had little or no
education or adaptive skills training, and those who developed visual
impairments during adulthood have usually not learned accessible methods for
reading, writing or accomplishing other life tasks and goals. As a result, many
immigrants and refugees with visual limitations have few independent living
skills, little experience on their own, and very limited ideas of how to adapt
to opportunities in the community. And even those who have been resourceful
enough to develop strategies and independent living skills appropriate for
survival and independent living in their countries of origin, cannot usually
transfer the strategies, skills or experience to the challenges of living on
their own, and adapting to new and unexpected opportunities in their new
homeland. This makes it quite difficult for them to participate on an equal
basis with sighted peers in programs designed to meet the needs of the broadest
section of immigrants and refugees, or the general population of the Seattle
area.
It
is therefore noteworthy that the ophthalmologists and optometrists reported the
three largest groups of immigrants and refugees of all ages with visual
limitations receiving service during the past year came from Asia and the
Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe, all areas where
their opportunities for education and adaptive skills training would have been
generally poor. (See Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And
Optometrists, especially Tables 4 and 6.) The ophthalmologists and optometrists
reported the largest group of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations
receiving service during the past year came from Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Girls and women from that region constituted 20.1 percent of the total; boys and
men constituted 14.8 percent of the total; both sexes together constituted 34.9
percent of the total reported. The second largest group receiving service from
the ophthalmologists and optometrists during the past year came from Central and
South America. Girls and women from that region constituted 12.0 percent of the
total; boys and men constituted 10.1 percent of the total; both sexes together
constituted 22.1 percent of the total reported. The third largest group of
immigrants and refugees with visual limitations receiving service from the
ophthalmologists and optometrists during the past year came from Eastern Europe.
Girls and women from that region constituted 11.8 percent of the total; boys and
men constituted 7.9 percent of the total; both sexes together constituted 19.7
percent of the total reported. (See Appendix I, Statistical Tables,
Ophthalmologists And Optometrists, Tables 4, "Percentage of immigrants or
refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not simply
correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by region of origin, sex
and age group.")
The
non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs reported the three
largest groups of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations of all ages
receiving service during the past year came from Africa, Central and South
America, Asia and the Pacific Islands, all areas with poor educational
opportunities for handicapped people. It is encouraging to know that these
immigrants and refugees have been receiving some necessary services. But, the
actual numbers are so small as to leave little room for complacency. The
non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs reported the largest
number of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations receiving service
during the past year came from Africa. Six girls and women from that region were
reported, constituting 18.2 percent of the total; eighteen boys and men were
reported, constituting 54.6 percent of the total; together, there were
twenty-four visually-impaired people from Africa reported, constituting 72.8
percent of the total reported. The second largest number of immigrants and
refugees with visual limitations receiving non-medical or ESL services during
the past year came from Central and South America. Only one woman from that
region was reported, constituting 3.0 percent of the total. Five boys and men
were reported, constituting 15.2 percent of the total; together, there were six
visually-impaired people from Central and South America reported, constituting
18.2 percent of the total reported. The third largest number of immigrants and
refugees with visual limitations receiving non-medical or ESL services during
the past year came from Asia and the Pacific islands. Only one woman from that
region was reported, constituting 3.0 percent of the total; three boys and men
were reported, constituting 6.1 percent of the total. Together, there were three
visually-impaired people from Asia and the Pacific Islands constituting 9.1
percent of the total reported. (See Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-medical
Service Providers and ESL Educational programs, Table 10, "Percentage of
immigrants or refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not
simply correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by region of origin,
sex and age group.")
The
ophthalmologists and optometrists, and the non-medical service providers and ESL
educational programs all reported that the smallest number of immigrants and
refugees with visual limitations of all ages receiving service during the past
year came from Western Europe. The ophthalmologists and optometrists reported
that girls and women from Western Europe constituted only 4.4 percent of the
total of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations they had served during
the past year. Boys and men from Western Europe constituted only 3.5 percent of
the total. Both sexes together constituted only 7.9 percent of the total number
of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations the ophthalmologists and
optometrists had served during the past year. The non-medical service providers
and ESL educational programs reported the smallest number of immigrants and
refugees with visual limitations receiving service during the past year came
from Western and Eastern Europe, both together representing 0 percent of the
total they had served during the past year. (See Appendix I, Statistical Tables,
Ophthalmologists And Optometrists, Table 4, "Percentage of immigrants or
refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not simply
correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by region of origin, sex
and age group" and Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-medical Service
Providers and ESL Educational programs, Table 10, "Percentage of immigrants
or refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not simply
correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by region of origin, sex
and age group.")
Although
visually-impaired new-comers from Western Europe may be very likely to have
adequate resources and skills to adapt to the North American context, those from
Eastern Europe have very often had little or no special skills training,
assistive services or educational opportunities in their countries of origin.
Given the fact that the ophthalmologists and optometrists reported the third
largest number of immigrants and refugees of all ages with visual limitations
receiving service from them during the past year came from Eastern Europe, 129
individuals, immigrants and refugees from that region therefore represent a
potentially highly needy and under-served population.
The
ophthalmologists and optometrists reported serving more immigrant and refugee
girls and women than boys and men during the past year. Girls and women under 18
years of age constituted 11.1 percent of the total reported; women between the
ages of 18 and 65 constituted 26.2 percent of the total; women over 65 years of
age constituted 18.6 percent of the total reported. Together, visually-impaired
or blind immigrant and refugee girls and women of all ages constituted 55.9
percent of the total reported by the ophthalmologists and optometrists. The
largest number of women served by these ophthalmologists and optometrists were
between the ages of 18 and 65. By contrast, the non-medical service providers
and ESL educational programs reported serving more boys and men than girls and
women. There were two boys and young men under 18 years of age reported as
receiving non-medical or ESL services, constituting 6.1 percent of the total;
there were twenty-one men between 18 and 65 years of age reported, constituting
63.6 percent of the total; and there were two men over 65 years of age reported,
constituting 6.1 percent of the total. together, there were twenty-five
visually-impaired immigrant and refugee boys and men reported as receiving
services from the non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs,
constituting 75.8 percent of the total receiving services. The largest number of
men served by the non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs
were between 18 and 65 years of age. (See Appendix II, Statistical Tables,
Non-medical Service Providers and ESL Educational programs, Table 7,
"Number of immigrants or refugees who have significant vision impairments
which are not simply correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by age
group and sex.")
There
are good reasons to believe that the contrast between the large proportion of
girls and women reported by the ophthalmologists and optometrists and the
comparatively quite small proportion of girls and women reported by the
non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs as receiving services
is not accidental or simply due to the preliminary nature of this survey. This
contrast can be understood in terms of the cultural practices in the countries
of origin of the visually-impaired immigrants and refugees. As noted in WOMEN
AND DISABILITY prepared by Esther R. Boylan, in the poorer parts of the world,
"Families in rural areas do not send even able-bodied girls to school once
they attain puberty. Education and training are seen as investment in
breadwinners, man is seen as a breadwinner and the woman's role is seen as wife
and mother." Visually-impaired and blind girls and women are even more
likely to be excluded from education and training opportunities. "Attitudes
and ignorance are particularly virulent where blind women are concerned--no one
would readily consider marrying off a blind girl or asking for her hand in
marriage. Objects of false pity and mindless charity, blind women are often
relegated to the lowest status in the community--they are isolated from society
and confined to a corner of the house and live in obscurity, silent misery and
total social and economic dependency." (see: WOMEN AND DISABILITY prepared
by Esther R. Boylan).
In
Asia there are currently some experimental vocational training and
rehabilitation programs for blind girls and women, but as yet they only reach a
very small proportion of those who might benefit from them. Dr Fatima Shah,
founder and president of the Pakistan Association for the Blind, has noted that
in an average Asian home, especially in rural areas, disabled girls and women
are "just left to exist in a confined area of the house. Very few, if any,
have the chance for any kind of education." (see: WOMEN AND DISABILITY
prepared by Esther R. Boylan).
When
visually-impaired girls and women come to the United States they usually retain
their low status in their respective immigrant and refugee communities. Many are
viewed as free lifetime babysitters and housekeepers. Some are viewed primarily
as sources of welfare income. Some are physically and/or sexually abused. And
most of them are discouraged from attempting to broaden their horizons by
learning English or becoming actively involved in community activities outside
their families in the new homeland. These girls and women often feel defeated by
these attitudes of social and psychological stigmatization. They are overwhelmed
by negative self-images of inferiority and uselessness, and lack any hope of
improving their condition. Older women very often carry the additional burden of
believing that the aging process has robbed them of the ability to learn new
things and adapt to new situations.
It
is highly probable that these cultural factors strongly contribute to the
relatively low proportion of visually-impaired and blind immigrant and refugee
women in programs that provide skills training, as well as in ESL or literacy
programs. And, this contrast should alert us to the situation of all too many
visually-impaired immigrant and refugee girls and women as largely under-served.
(See Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-medical Service Providers and ESL
Educational programs, Tables 7and 8, which show number and percentage of
immigrants or refugees who have significant vision impairments which are not
simply correctable by the use of standard optical lenses -- by age group and
sex.)
More
than 70 percent of immigrants are over the age of 18 when they arrive in the
United States. Most are in the prime of their working lives. (See: Immigrants
and the Economy, National Immigration Forum 2000,
It
is therefore not surprising that the ophthalmologists and optometrists
responding to our questionnaire reported that immigrants and refugees with
visual limitations between the ages of 18 and 65 constituted the largest group
receiving service from them during the past year. Women in that age group were
26.2 percent of the total reported by the ophthalmologists and optometrists; men
were 19.4 percent of the total; 45.6 percent of all immigrants and refugees with
visual limitations reported by the ophthalmologists and optometrists were from
that age group. (See Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And
Optometrists, Table 2, "Percentage of immigrants or refugees who have
significant vision impairments which are not simply correctable by the use of
standard optical lenses -- by age group and sex.") The non-medical service
providers and ESL educational programs also reported that immigrants and
refugees with visual limitations between the ages of 18 and 65 were the largest
group receiving service during the past year. Women in that age group
constituted 21.2 percent of the total of those served by the non-medical service
providers and ESL educational programs. Men constituted 63.6 percent of the
total. For the non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs, 84.8
percent of all immigrants and refugees with visual limitations reported as
served were from that age group. (See Appendix II, Statistical Tables,
Non-medical Service Providers and ESL Educational programs, Table 8,
"Percentage of immigrants or refugees who have significant vision
impairments which are not simply correctable by the use of standard optical
lenses -- by age group and sex.")
It
is noteworthy that the ophthalmologists and optometrists reported the second
largest group of immigrants and refugees with visual limitations receiving
service from them during the past year were over 65 years of age. Women in that
age group were 18.6 percent of the total; men were 13.7 percent of the total;
both sexes in that age group constituted 32.3 percent of the total served.
However, the non-medical service providers and ESL educational programs reported
immigrants and refugees with visual limitations over the age of 65 as the
smallest group receiving service from them during the past year. They reported
serving no older women, constituting 0 percent of the total. They reported
serving two older men, constituting 6.1 percent of the total. Counting people of
both sexes, there were only two visually-impaired immigrants or refugees over
the age of 65 reported as receiving services by the non-medical service
providers and ESL educational programs, constituting 6.1 percent of the total
reported. Clearly, those over 65 are an under-served group. (Compare Appendix I,
Table 1 and Appendix II, Table 7 for numbers; compare Appendix I, Table 2 and
Appendix II, Table 8 for percentages.)
This
contrast can be partly understood in terms of the very limited services and
referrals offered to all visually-impaired and blind seniors in the Seattle
area. It should also be understood in the context of the special challenges
faced by all elderly immigrants and refugees. Jean E. Carlin notes a number of
problems specific to elderly immigrants and refugees which are of importance in
understanding the stresses faced by the visually-impaired and blind immigrants
and refugees who are elderly:
*
"Most elderly men and women have found adjusting to a new country and a new
culture very difficult. Isolation from former friends because of distance and
inability to use the telephone or a bus is a serious problem. The adult children
of these elderly persons often are too busy trying to survive to be very much
aware of the loneliness and isolation of the elderly."
*
"Because language is a major barrier, elderly refugees and immigrants may
have difficulty in making new friends in their neighborhoods, and thus they are
unable to become socially involved in the new country. They are very
lonely."
*
"Some elderly refugees and immigrants speak English, but many do not and
will not go to classes to learn English for fear of failure with the
accompanying loss of face. Different cultures have different perceptions of age,
and many refugees believe they are too old to learn. Some of them have had
little or no prior school experience and cannot read their own languages. Others
are too depressed and preoccupied to learn."
*
"Staying home with nothing useful to do is very demoralizing, especially
for elderly men who previously had jobs with some status. The elderly women can
keep busy with housework, cooking and child-care for their adult children. But
life becomes boring and lonely as everyone else in the family is progressing
toward the future while the elderly are regressing and feeling
unproductive."
*
"Loss of family members and friends during their escapes leads to guilt
feelings. Surviving when others did not creates survivor guilt. The elderly may
become depressed and want to die."
*
"Psychiatric practices may be completely unknown to these elderly people,
and Western medical practices and Western medicines may be foreign and
frightening to them. Even directions can be confusing."
*
"Elderly people must face the probability of death in the near future. This
is always difficult, but facing death far from the lands and spirits of one's
ancestors (whom one hopes to join) is even more difficult. Some believe that
spirits, far from their ancestors, may wander forever trying to find their
homelands. This prospect may be very frightening to the elderly refugees."
*
"The elderly are usually the ones who are the least-able to comprehend the
new language and culture. Therefore, their adult children and grandchildren are
not likely to seek their advice as they formerly did in their countries of
origin. The elderly feel unneeded and unappreciated." (See: "Refugee
and Immigrant Populations at Special Risk: Women, Children and the
Elderly")
The
encouragement and support of literacy and civic involvement are generally
recognized as vitally important for all immigrants and refugees, in order to
enhance their ability to fully participate in the life of our society. If
visually-impaired and blind immigrants and refugees are not given adequate
opportunities to become literate in appropriately accessible formats and develop
the skills necessary for engaging in civic activities, then they are denied this
possibility. Moreover, they are, in effect doubly handicapped, because the lack
of such skills and resources create further disabilities, which can exacerbate
the difficulties concomitant with any physical handicap.
Only
if programs can improve the outreach to visually-impaired and blind immigrants
and refugees, to assist them in acquiring the necessary specialized skills to
learn English and become oriented to North American culture, will a larger
proportion of them be able to escape from the category of helpless, dependent
people who can only be a burden to others and objects of pity, and become active
and respected members of our society.
WOMEN
AND DISABILITY prepared by Esther R. Boylan, first published by Zed Books LTD,
57 Caledonian Road, London Ml 9BU, United Kingdom and 165 First Avenue, Atlantic
Highlands, New Jersey 07716, United States of America, in 1991. United Nations
Non-Governmental Liaison Service, 1991
"Steady
stream of immigrants underscores July Fourth" by David Fisher, SEATTLE
POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Tuesday, July 4, 2000:
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/indy04.shtml
"The
2000 Census: The tide of foreign-born now a flood, State's prosperity is a
welcome change from war and poverty" By Phuong Cat Le and Lise Olsen, THE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Monday, August 6, 2001:
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/34070_census06.shtml
National
Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, THE NEW AMERICANS: ECONOMIC,
DEMOGRAPHIC, AND FISCAL EFFECTS OF IMMIGRATION, National Academy Press (1997)
Immigrants
and the Economy, National Immigration Forum (2000), available at:
http://www.immigrationforum.org/Facts/economyfactsheet.htm
ABC's
of Immigration, available at:
http://www.immigrationforum.org/Facts/ABCsonimmigration.htm
WASHINGTON
LITERACY RESOURCE DIRECTORY, compiled by Washington Literacy (1999).
"Refugee
and Immigrant Populations at Special Risk: Women, Children and the
Elderly," by Jean E. Carlin, in MENTAL HEALTH OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES,
eds. Wayne Holzman and Thomas Bourneman
Appendix
I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
1: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By Age
Group And Sex.
Table Column Headings: Sex; Age
Group; Number Of Men & Boys; Number Of Women & Girls; Total Number
Age Group: Under 18; Sex:
Number Of Men And Boys: 72; Number Of Women And Girls: 73; Total Number: 145
Age Group: 18 To 65; Sex:
Number Of Men: 127; Number Of Women: 172; Total Number: 299
Age Group: Over 65; Sex: Number
Of Men: 90; Number Of Women: 122; Total Number: 212
All Ages: Sex: Number Of Men
And Boys: 289; Number Of Women And Girls: 367; Number Of Both Sexes: 656
Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
2: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By Age
Group And Sex.
Table Column Headings: Age
Group; Sex; Percentage Of Men & Boys; Percentage Of Women & Girls; Total
Percentage
Age Group: Under 18; Percentage
Of Men And Boys: 11.0; Percentage Of Women And Girls: 11.1; Total Percentage:
22.1
Age Group: 18 To 65; Percentage
Of Men: 19.4; Percentage Of Women: 26.2; Total Percentage: 45.6
Age Group: Over 65; Percentage
Of Men: 13.7; Percentage Of Women: 18.6; Total Percentage: 32.3
All Ages: Percentage Of Men and
Boys: 44.1; Percentage Of Women and Girls: 55.9; Percentage Of Both Sexes: 100.0
Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
3: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Region, Sex And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Region
Of Origin; Sex; Age Group; Number Under 18; Number 18 To 65; Number Over 65;
Total Number
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 15; Number 18 To 65: 19; Number Over
65: 17; Total Number: 51
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 15; Number 18 To 65: 17; Number
Over 65: 18; Total Number: 50
Region Of Origin: Africa: Both
Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 30; Number 18 To 65: 36; Number Over 65: 35;
Total Number: 101
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 32; Number 18
To 65: 34; Number Over 65: 31; Total Number: 97
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 33; Number
18 To 65: 58; Number Over 65: 41; Total Number: 132
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Both Sexes: Number Under 18: 65; Number 18 To 65: 92; Number
Over 65: 72; Total Number: 229
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 15; Number 18 To 65:
25; Number Over 65: 12; Total Number: 52
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 15; Number 18 To 65:
38; Number Over 65: 24; Total Number: 77
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 30; Number 18 To 65: 63; Number
Over 65: 36; Total Number: 129
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 5; Number 18 To 65: 10;
Number Over 65: 8; Total Number: 23
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 5; Number 18 To 65:
14; Number Over 65: 10; Total Number: 29
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 10; Number 18 To 65: 24; Number
Over 65: 18; Total Number: 52
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 5; Number 18 To
65: 39; Number Over 65: 22; Total Number: 66
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 5; Number 18
To 65: 45; Number Over 65: 29; Total Number: 79
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 10; Number 18 To 65: 84;
Number Over 65: 51; Total Number: 145
All Regions: Sex: Men &
Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 72; Number 18 To 65: 127; Number Over 65: 90;
Total Number: 289
All Regions: Sex: Women &
Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 73; Number 18 To 65: 172; Number Over 65:
122; Total Number: 367
All Regions: Both Sexes: Age
Group: Number Under 18: 145; Number 18 To 65: 299; Number Over 65: 212; Total
Number: 656
Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
4: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Region Of Origin, Sex And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Region
Of Origin; Sex; Age Group; Percentage Under 18; Percentage 18 To 65; Percentage
Over 65; Total Percentage
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 2.3; Percentage 18 To 65: 2.9;
Percentage Over 65: 2.6; Total Percentage: 7.8
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 2.3; Percentage 18 To 65:
2.6; Percentage Over 65: 2.7; Total Percentage: 7.6
Region Of Origin: Africa: Both
Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 4.6; Percentage 18 To 65: 5.5; Percentage
Over 65: 5.3; Total Percentage: 15.4
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 4.9;
Percentage 18 To 65: 5.2; Percentage Over 65: 4.7; Total Percentage: 14.8
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 5.0;
Percentage 18 To 65: 8.8; Percentage Over 65: 6.3; Total Percentage: 20.1
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 9.9; Percentage 18
To 65: 14.0; Percentage Over 65: 11.0; Total Percentage: 34.9
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 2.3; Percentage 18
To 65: 3.8; Percentage Over 65: 1.8; Total Percentage: 7.9
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 2.3; Percentage
18 To 65: 5.8; Percentage Over 65: 3.7; Total Percentage: 11.7
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 4.6; Percentage 18 To 65:
9.6; Percentage Over 65: 5.5; Total Percentage: 19.6
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0.8; Percentage 18
To 65: 1.5; Percentage Over 65: 1.2; Total Percentage: 3.5
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0.8; Percentage
18 To 65: 2.1; Percentage Over 65: 1.5; Total Percentage: 4.4
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 1.6; Percentage 18 To 65:
3.6; Percentage Over 65: 2.7; Total Percentage: 7.9
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0.8;
Percentage 18 To 65: 5.9; Percentage Over 65: 3.4; Total Percentage: 10.1
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0.8;
Percentage 18 To 65: 6.9; Percentage Over 65: 4.4; Total Percentage: 12.0
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 1.6; Percentage 18 To
65: 12.8; Percentage Over 65: 7.8; Total Percentage: 22.1
All Regions: Sex: Men &
Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 11.0; Percentage 18 To 65: 19.4;
Percentage Over 65: 13.7; Total Percentage: 44.1
All Regions: Sex: Women &
Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 11.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 26.2;
Percentage Over 65: 18.6; Total Percentage: 55.9
All Regions: Both Sexes: Age
Group: Percentage Under 18: 22.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 45.6; Percentage Over 65:
32.3; Total percentage: 100.
Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
5: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Sex, Region And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Sex; Age
Group; Region Of Origin: Number From Africa; Number From Asia and Pacific
Islands; Number From Eastern Europe; Number From Western Europe; Number From
Central and South America; Total Number
Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group:
Under 18: Number From Africa: 15; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 32;
Number From Eastern Europe: 15; Number From Western Europe: 5; Number From
Central and South America: 5; Total Number: 72
Sex: Men: Age Group: 18 To 65:
Number From Africa: 19; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 34; Number From
Eastern Europe: 25; Number From Western Europe: 10; Number From Central and
South America: 39; Total Number: 127
Sex: Men: Age Group: Over 65:
Number From Africa: 17; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 31; Number From
Eastern Europe: 12; Number From Western Europe: 8; Number From Central and South
America: 22; Total Number: 90
Sex: Men & Boys: All Ages:
Number From Africa: 51; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 97; Number From
Eastern Europe: 52; Number From Western Europe: 23; Number From Central and
South America: 66; Total Number: 289
Sex: Women & Girls: Age
Group: Under 18: Number From Africa: 15; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands:
33; Number From Eastern Europe: 15; Number From Western Europe: 5; Number From
Central and South America: 5; Total Number: 73
Sex: Women: Age Group: 18 To
65: Number From Africa: 17; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 58; Number
From Eastern Europe: 38; Number From Western Europe: 14; Number From Central and
South America: 45; Total Number: 172
Sex: Women: Age Group: Over 65:
Number From Africa: 18; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 41; Number From
Eastern Europe: 24; Number From Western Europe: 10; Number From Central and
South America: 29; Total Number: 122
Sex: Women & Girls: All
Ages: Number From Africa: 50; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 132; Number
From Eastern Europe: 77; Number From Western Europe: 29; Number From Central and
South America: 79; Total Number: 367
Grand Total Both Sexes: All
Ages: Number From Africa: 101; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 229; Number
From Eastern Europe: 129; Number From Western Europe: 52; Number From Central
and South America: 145; Total Number: 656
Appendix I, Statistical Tables, Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
(Tables
1 through 6)
Table
6: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Sex, Region And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Sex; Age
Group; Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa; Percentage From Asia and
Pacific Islands; Percentage From Eastern Europe; Percentage From Western Europe;
Percentage From Central and South America; Total Percentage
Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group:
Under 18: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.3; Percentage From Asia
and Pacific Islands: 4.9; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 2.3; Percentage From
Western Europe: 0.8; Percentage From Central and South America: 0.8; Total
Percentage: 11.0
Sex: Men: Age Group: 18 To 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.9; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 5.2; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 3.8; Percentage From Western
Europe: 1.5; Percentage From Central and South America: 5.9; Total Percentage:
19.4
Sex: Men: Age Group: Over 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.6; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 4.7; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 1.8; Percentage From Western
Europe: 1.2; Percentage From Central and South America: 3.4; Total Percentage:
13.7
Sex: Men & Boys: All Ages:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 7.8; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 14.8; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 7.9; Percentage From Western
Europe: 3.5; Percentage From Central and South America: 10.1; Total Percentage:
44.1
Sex: Women & Girls: Age
Group: Under 18 Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.3; Percentage From
Asia and Pacific Islands: 5.0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 2.3; Percentage
From Western Europe: 0.8; Percentage From Central and South America: 0.8; Total
Percentage: 11.1
Sex: Women: Age Group: 18 To 65
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.6; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 8.8; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 5.8; Percentage From Western
Europe: 2.1; Percentage From Central and South America: 6.9; Total Percentage:
26.2
Sex: Women: Age Group: Over 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 2.7; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 6.3; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 3.7; Percentage From Western
Europe: 1.5; Percentage From Central and South America: 4.4; Total Percentage:
18.6
Sex: Women & Girls: All
Ages: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 7.6; Percentage From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 20.1; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 11.7;Percentage From
Western Europe: 4.4; Percentage From Central and South America: 12.0; Total
Percentage: 55.9
Grand Total Both Sexes: All
Ages: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 15.4; Percentage From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 34.9; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 19.7; Percentage From
Western Europe: 7.9; Percentage From Central and South America: 22.1; Total
Percentage: 100.0
Appendix
II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical Service Providers And ESL Educational
Programs
(Tables
7 through 12)
Table
7: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By Age
Group And Sex.
Table Column Headings: Age
Group; Sex; Number of Men &
Boys; Number Of Women & Girls; Total Number
Age Group: Under 18: Sex:
Number of Men & Boys: 2; Number Of Women & Girls: 1; Total
Number: 3;
Age Group: 18 To 65: Sex:
Number of Men: 21; Number Of Women: 7; Total Number: 28
Age Group: Over 65: Sex:
Number of Men: 2; Number Of Women: 0; Total Number: 2
All Ages: Sex:
Number of Men & Boys: 25; Number Of Women & Girls: 8; Total
Number: 33
Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical
Service Providers And ESL Educational Programs
(Tables 7 through 12)
Table
8: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By Age
Group And Sex.
Table Column Headings: Age
Group; Sex; Percentage Of Men & Boys; Percentage Of Women & Girls; Total
Percentage
Age Group: Under 18: Sex:
Percentage Of Men & Boys: 6.1; Percentage Of Women & Girls: 3.0; Total
Percentage: 9.1
Age Group: 18 To 65: Sex:
Percentage Of Men: 63.6; Percentage Of Women: 21.2; Total Percentage: 84.8
Age Group: Over 65: Sex:
Percentage Of Men: 6.1; Percentage Of Women: 0 Total Percentage: 6.1
All Ages Total: Sex: Percentage
Of Men & Boys: 75.8; Percentage Of Women & Girls: 24.2; Total
Percentage: 100.0
Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical
Service Providers And ESL Educational Programs
(Tables 7 through 12)
Table
9: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Region, Sex And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Region
Of Origin; Sex; Age Group; Number Under 18; Number 18 To 65; Number Over 65;
Total Number
Region Of Origin:
Africa: Sex: Men & Boys:
Age Group: Number Under 18: 2; Number 18 To 65: 14; Number Over 65: 2; Number
All Ages: 18
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 1; Number 18
To 65: 5; Number Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 6
Region Of Origin: Africa: Both
Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 3; Number 18 To 65: 19; Number Over 65: 0;
Number All Ages: 24
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Men &
Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 2; Number Over 65: 0;
Number All Ages: 2
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Women &
Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 1; Number Over 65: 0;
Number All Ages: 1
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 3;
Number Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 3
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age
Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number Over 65: 0; Number All
Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age
Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number Over 65: 0; Number All
Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number
Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: SEX: Men & Boys: Age
Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number Over 65: 0; Number All
Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age
Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number Over 65: 0; Number All
Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 0; Number
Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Men & Boys:
Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 5; Number Over 65: 0; Number All
Ages: 5
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Women &
Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 1; Number Over 65: 0;
Number All Ages: 1
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 0; Number 18 To 65: 6;
Number Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 6
All Regions: Sex:
Men & Boys: Age Group: Number Under 18: 2; Number 18 To 65: 21;
Number Over 65: 2; Number All Ages: 25
All Regions: Sex:
Women & Girls: Age Group: Number Under 18: 1; Number 18 To 65: 7;
Number Over 65: 0; Number All Ages: 8
All Regions: Total Number Of
Both Sexes: Age Group: Number Under 18: 3; Number 18 To 65: 28; Number Over 65:
2; Number All Ages: 33
Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical
Service Providers And ESL Educational Programs
(Tables 7 through 12)
Table
10: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Region Of Origin, Sex And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Region
Of Origin; Sex; Age Group; Percentage Under 18; Percentage 18 To 65; Percentage
Over 65; Total Percentage
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 6.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 42.4;
Percentage Over 65: 6.1; Percentage All Ages: 54.6
Region Of Origin: Africa: Sex:
Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 3.0; Percentage 18 To 65:
15.2; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 18.2
Region Of Origin: Africa: Both
Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 9.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 57.6;
Percentage Over 65: 6.1; Percentage All Ages: 72.8
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0;
Percentage 18 To 65: 6.1; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 6.1
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0;
Percentage 18 To 65: 3.0; Percentage Over 65: 0 Percentage All Ages: 3.0
Region Of Origin: Asia and
Pacific Islands: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To
65: 9.1; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 9.1
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To
65: 0; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18
65: 0; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Eastern
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To 65: 0;
Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To
65: 0; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18
To 65: 0; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Western
Europe: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To 65: 0;
Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 0
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Men & Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0;
Percentage 18 To 65: 15.2; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 15.2
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Sex: Women & Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0;
Percentage 18 To 65: 3.0; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 3.0
Region Of Origin: Central and
South America: Both Sexes: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To
65: 18.2; Percentage Over 65: 0; Percentage All Ages: 18.2
All Regions: Sex: Men &
Boys: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 6.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 63.6; Percentage
Over 65: 6.1; Percentage All Ages: 75.8
All Regions: Sex: Women &
Girls: Age Group: Percentage Under 18: 0; Percentage 18 To 65: 21.2; Percentage
Over 65: 3.0; Percentage All Ages: 24.2
All Regions: Both Sexes: Age
Group: Percentage Under 18: 6.1; Percentage 18 To 65: 84.8; Percentage Over 65:
9.1; Percentage All Ages: 100.0
Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical
Service Providers And ESL Educational Programs
(Tables 7 through 12)
Table
11: Number Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Sex, Region And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Sex; Age
Group; Region Of Origin: Number From Africa; Number From Asia And Pacific
Islands; Number From Eastern Europe; Number From Western Europe; Number From
Central and South America; Total Number
Sex:
Men And Boys: Age Group: Under 18: Number From Africa: 2; Number From
Asia and Pacific Islands: 0; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western
Europe: 0; Number From Central and South America: 0; Total Number: 2
Sex:
Men: Age Group: 18 To 65: Number From Africa: 14; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 2; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 5; Total Number: 21
Sex:
Men: Age Group: Over 65: Number From Africa: 2; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 0; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 0; Total Number: 2
Sex:
Men And Boys: All Ages: Number From Africa: 18; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 2; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 5; Total Number: 25
Sex:
Women And Girls: Age Group: Under 18: Number From Africa: 1; Number From
Asia and Pacific Islands: 0; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western
Europe: 0; Number From Central and South America: 0; Total Number: 1
Sex:
Women: Age Group: 18 To 65: Number From Africa: 5; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 1; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 1; Total Number: 7
Sex:
Women: Age Group: Over 65: Number From Africa: 0; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 0; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 0; Total Number: 0
Sex:
Women And Girls: All Ages: Number From Africa: 6; Number From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 1; Number From Eastern Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe:
0; Number From Central and South America: 1; Total Number: 8
Both Sexes: All Ages: Number
From Africa: 24; Number From Asia and Pacific Islands: 3; Number From Eastern
Europe: 0; Number From Western Europe: 0; Number From Central and South America:
6; Total Number: 33
Appendix II, Statistical Tables, Non-Medical
Service Providers And ESL Educational Programs
(Tables 7 through 12)
Table
12: Percentage Of Immigrants Or Refugees Who Have Significant Vision Impairments
Which Are Not Simply Correctable By The Use Of Standard Optical Lenses -- By
Sex, Region And Age Group.
Table Column Headings: Sex; Age
Group; Region Of Origin; Percentage From Africa; Percentage From Asia and
Pacific Islands; Percentage From Eastern Europe; Percentage From Western Europe;
Percentage From Central and South America; Total Percentage
Sex: Men And Boys: Age Group:
Under 18: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 6.1; Percentage From Asia
and Pacific Islands: 0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From
Western Europe: 0; Percentage From Central and South America: 0; Total
Percentage: 6.1
Sex: Men: Age Group: 18 To 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 42.4; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 6.1; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe:
0; Percentage From Central and South America: 15.2; Total Percentage: 63.6
Sex: Men: Age Group: Over 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 6.1; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe:
0; Percentage From Central and South America: 0; Total Percentage: 6.1
Sex: Men And Boys: All Ages:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 54.6; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 6.1; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe:
0; Percentage From Central and South America: 15.2; Total Percentage: 75.8
Sex: Women And Girls: Age
Group: Under 18: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 3.0; Percentage From
Asia and Pacific Islands: 0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From
Western Europe: 0; Percentage From Central and South America: 0; Total
Percentage: 3.0
Sex: Women: Age Group: 18 To
65: Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 15.2; Percentage From Asia and
Pacific Islands: 3.0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western
Europe: 0; Percentage From Central and South America: 3.0; Total Percentage:
21.2
Sex: Women: Age Group: Over 65:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 0; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe:
0; Percentage From Central and South America: 0; Total Percentage: 0
Sex: Women And Girls: All Ages:
Region Of Origin: Percentage From Africa: 18.2; Percentage From Asia and Pacific
Islands: 3.0; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe:
0; Percentage From Central and South America: 3.0; Total Percentage: 24.2
Both Sexes: All Ages: Region Of
Origin: Percentage From Africa: 72.8; Percentage From Asia and Pacific Islands:
9.1; Percentage From Eastern Europe: 0; Percentage From Western Europe: 0;
Percentage From Central and South America: 18.2; Total Percentage: 100.0
Appendix
III, Questionnaire
III-A,
Questionnaire Introductory page (for both surveys)
People who are blind or
visually impaired need adequate training in specialized adaptive skills to help
them achieve personal fulfillment and success in school, on the job and in other
areas of life. Imagine needing, in addition, to learn a new language and the
ways of a very new culture. That is the situation of blind and visually impaired
people who have been forced to leave their homelands because of war, famine,
persecution and oppression. Kaizen is a new program that helps these immigrants
and refugees who are struggling to build a new life in the United States. Kaizen
helps them learn English and become familiar with our society and customs. It
also helps them to utilize the specialized adaptive techniques and technologies
they need to meet the challenges related to their visual impairments.
Who Can Kaizen Help?
The Kaizen Program can provide
services to new English learners who have medically documented visual
impairments which impede their visual access to important environmental cues and
written or printed material, when these visual impairments are not simply
correctable by the use of standard optical lenses.
Kaizen does not exclude any
person in any way from participation as student, instructor, staff, board
member, volunteer assistant, or in any other role because of race, ethnic,
political or social background. Kaizen welcomes and invites the participation of
people from all backgrounds in furthering the purposes of the program.
Special Problems And Challenges
Because of their difficulty
seeing pictures and other visual cues, many new English learners who are
visually impaired or blind have difficulty participating in programs for
fully-sighted immigrants and refugees. The staff in these programs also often
have difficulty understanding their special needs. And, because of their lack of
English proficiency, many new English learners have difficulty participating in
programs which primarily serve fluent English-speaking blind and visually
impaired people. We know from many individual accounts, that often such people
never even attempt to get any help, because of their feeling that the hurtles
are too difficult for them to surmount.
We Are Doing A Survey
Because of these factors,
currently, no one really knows how many people in the Seattle Metropolitan area
who are visually impaired or blind might need specialized assistance in learning
English and orientation to American culture. As part of Kaizen's mission to
assist such people, we are doing a survey to gain some idea of how many people
in the Seattle Metropolitan area face these dual challenges.
We would very much appreciate
it if you could help us by answering the following questions as completely as
possible. We will be very grateful for your assistance.
III-B,
Questionnaire For Ophthalmologists And Optometrists
1. During the past 12 months,
have you provided services to immigrants or refugees who have significant vision
impairments which are not simply correctable by the use of standard optical
lenses?
2. If yes, how many of them
have requested the assistance of interpreters?
3. How many of them have had
difficulty communicating in English?
4. How many are adult women
between the ages of 18 and 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
5. How many are adult men
between the ages of 18 and 65 from each area
From
what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
6. How many are women over the
age of 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
7. How many are men over the
age of 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
8. How many are girls and young
women under the age of 18 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
9. How many are boys and young
men under the age of 18 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
10. Any additional comments:
11. Your name and address:
III-C,
Questionnaire for Non-medical Service Providers and ESL Educational programs
1. Within the past 12 months
have you provided services to immigrants or refugees who have significant vision
impairments which are not simply correctable by the use of standard optical
lenses? Yes No
2. If yes, how many of them
request the assistance of interpreters?
3. How many of them have difficulty communicating in English?
4. How many are adult women between the ages of 18 and 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central or South America?
5. How many are adult men between the ages of 18 and 65 from each area
From
what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
6. How many are women over the
age of 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
7.
How many are men over the age of 65 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
8.
How many are girls and young women under the age of 18 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
9.
How many are boys and young men under the age of 18 from each area
From what countries of origin?
Africa?
Asia or Pacific Islands?
Eastern Europe?
Western
Europe?
Central
or South America?
10. Any additional comments:
11. Your name and address:
Kaizen Program
for
New English Learners with Visual Limitations
810-A Hiawatha Place S., Seattle, WA 98144, U.S.A.
phone: (206) 784-5619
email:
kaizen_esl@literacynet.org
web:
http://www.nwlincs.org/kaizen/